Vasectomy Side Effects Every Man Should
Know

Vasectomy seems to be an excellent solution for sterilization. But because this procedure is usually
administered on men who are in their 30s and 40s, a wide range of complications and side effects are always a
possibility. Vasectomy is just one of the numerous medical procedures that infuse danger to public and individual
health. That’s why health experts encourage men who wish to opt for this kind of birth control solution to think
not just twice but many times.

What is vasectomy?

Vasectomy for men is more like tubal ligation for women. It is a method of birth control which is said to be
permanent. Men who no longer wish to have children can go ahead with vasectomy. In this procedure, the vas deferens
or the tube that connects the testicles to the urethra is cut; therefore, no more sperms will be released or
ejaculated during sexual intercourse. This method was introduced in the late 1940s as a form of family planning.
Until now, a lot of men opt to undergo vasectomy than go through other forms of birth
control.

Some say that vasectomy is an entirely safe procedure. This out-patient process only
takes half an hour. Once the vas deferens has been cut, it will be sealed either by cauterization (heat sealing) or
stitching. However, just like any other surgical operations, vasectomy can lead to complications which may be very
inconvenient for men. It’s always a wise decision to heed for professional advice and consultation before going
through the process.

What may happen after vasectomy?

There’s a big possibility that a blow-out may occur during post vasectomy period. Here’s the thing- an
average man produces about 85 million sperm cells a day. Since there’s no more way out, the sperms will remain in
the testicles until such time they get absorbed by the body. As the testicles continue to produce sperm cells, the
sealed cords or deferens may swell up and burst and they may just go anywhere and leak to body cavities. Since this
condition is not natural, the body releases antibodies as its defense mechanism which unfortunately reacts
negatively with the sperm cells, leading to severe complications.

Majority of men who undergone vasectomies complain about the pain and discomfort they experience after the
procedure. Normally, the pain will continue for a week or so and will eventually subside but there are times that
it won’t go away. In that case, it’s no longer normal. It is important to see a doctor especially if the pain
becomes more intense than usual. There could be an underlying problem that triggers the
pain.

In addition to the pain, men may experience the feeling of fullness in their testicles. Since there’s no
longer an outlet for the sperms, this is a common symptom. The sperms produced by the testicles will stay in the
epididymis (the tube that connects the testicles to the vas deferens) until absorbed by the body. It may takes
several weeks for that to happen and can even be longer especially if the man produces more sperm than the average.

Post Vasectomy Infections

Worst cases of vasectomy side effects start from infection. While post vasectomy infections are very rare,
men should be aware of the possibility of them suffering from such unwanted side effect. There are vasectomy
patients who tend to ignore the pain and discomfort after the procedure not realizing that they’re already
suffering from complicated infections.

Everyone knows that infections are produced by harmful bacteria that get in to the body. Since there is an
incision made during the operation, there’s a very big chance that bacteria may enter the scrotum. Infections can
easily be detected because symptoms like redness, itch, and swelling are likely to occur on the male organ. Then,
men may also experience chronic fever and intense pain. Even in the epididymis, infections may occur and can lead
to a reproductive disorder called epididimitis.

Another kind of infection that may arise from vasectomy is the so called abscess. It is the collection of
pus which occurs when foreign substances, bacteria, and parasites pass through the incision. It is characterized by
a lump which has a pus on the center accumulated in a cavity formed by surrounding tissues. The area that surrounds
the pus is usually reddish, swollen and itchy.

Even healthy men can suffer from a very vicious post vasectomy infection which is septicemia. This
life-threatening bacterial infection is said to claim about 37,000 men a year. Well, vasectomy is not the only
cause of septicemia but it could be one. This infection rapidly breaks down the immune system by destroying the
blood cells and in week’s time after the proliferation of bacteria, the patient may die. The symptoms include
sudden high fever, abdominal pain, anxiety, rashes all over the body, drowsiness and difficulty in
breathing.

Sperm Granuloma

Sperm granuloma is a lump which grows when there is an inflammation of the scrotal tissues. If vasectomy
surgery is not done properly, there’s a possibility of sperms escaping out of the testicles. As this occasionally
happens, the tissues near the affected area will start to merge and create a big pocket to catch the sperm leakage.
Though this is not a very serious condition, it can bring pain and discomfort. It can be treated by taking
inflammatory drugs. However, there are vasectomy patients who do not realize that they have granuloma until such
time that the lump have grown bigger. In such case, surgery is necessary to remove it.

Prostate cancer and Hematoma

Though there’s still a controversy on whether or not vasectomy leads to prostate cancer, experts agree
that it can increase the risk of such life-endangering disease. In a study published in the Journal of American
Medical Association in 1993, it was found out that men who had vasectomy surgeries are more prone to prostate
cancer.

Hematoma is characterized by severe bleeding inside the scrotum which is very painful. This post vasectomy
side effect affects only 2% of men and usually, it is caused by a mistake during the surgery. Though this condition
is very rare, sufferers of hematoma should see their doctors immediately for proper treatment.

Decreased Sexual Drive

Perhaps one of the hardest things for men to experience after the operation is the inability to make and
sustain erection during sexual intercourse. During consultation, doctors will inform their clients that they will
still have the same level of orgasm and sexual drive because sperms are still being produced; it’s just that they
will not pass through the urethra anymore for ejaculation. But clinical studies show otherwise. Aside from the
vasectomy side effects on the physical health of men, this birth control method brings psychological effects too.
The chronic pain that patients suffer after the surgery greatly affects their sex drive. According to research, men
who undergo vasectomies are more likely to experience depression and decreased sexual desire. This generally
results from premature ejaculation, impotence, and even painful intercourse. Still, the causes are merely
psychological and majority of men who had vasectomies are still enjoying their sex life.

Post Vasectomy Pregnancy

A data revealed by the US Agency for International Development said that the rate of pregnancy after
vasectomy has reached a significant rate of 3-5%. On the other hand, it was estimated that out of 1,000 men who
undergone vasectomies, 11 will most likely to fail in birth control according to the Center for Disease Control.
While vasectomy is considered to be the most permanent form of birth control, there are rare cases where pregnancy
occurred after the procedure. Experts believe that the cause of it involve failure during the surgical operation
and the failure of the man to use contraceptives during the first 3 months after the surgery. Basically, it takes
10 to 20 ejaculations before the sperm count of man reaches zero in which case pregnancy may be already be
impossible to happen. Moreover, majority of them no longer return to their doctor to undergo semen analysis which is very important.

Continued STD Risks

Most men think that vasectomy can protect them from sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS. In a study
made by Anderson and his company published in Lancet, it was found that vasectomy does not protect men from the
infection caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). For this reason, doctors still recommend sexually active
men to use a condom and other effective forms of contraceptives to stay protected from any sexually transmitted
disease.

One of the toughest decisions people make is with regards to their health. There’s nothing wrong in
undergoing a medical procedure they think would be good for them. However, every one should be responsible enough
to ensure good health by carefully weighing its risks and the advantages. Seeking professional help and expert
advice is still the best way to ensure safe treatment and better health.

The Side Effects Of Vasectomy - SUMMARY

Vasectomy is regarded as one of the most effective and permanent methods of male
contraception and is often described as one of the safest methods, but bear in mind
that everything has its side effects and the appearance of Vasectomy Side Effects after
having been operated upon should not come as a surprise to any man who wishes to have a
vasectomy carried out on him. That is why a man should think well of the possible
ramifications before opting to have a vasectomy procedure carried out on him.

The first and foremost of the Vasectomy Side Effects is not being able to have
children. While this may sound like a good idea for those who have children and want to
have no more, the feeling of having no children and not being able to have one can be
disastrous for those men who have a vasectomy before having any children. This can lead
to severe psychological problems, especially in old age.

The second most potent of the Vasectomy Side Effects is the leakage of sperms in case
the vasectomy was carried out after cutting the vas deferens and then tying them or
sealing them.

If for example, the ties become opened or the seal tear apart, then the sperm starts to
leak into the scrotum and it swells up and becomes sensitive. This results in severe
pain and discomfort for the person involved and he has to be operated in emergency in
order to relieve him of the pain and suffering.

The third of the Vasectomy Side Effects is very rare but can, in theory take place.
This is the person catching an infection from either the operation theatre or the
surrounding after having a vasectomy carried out.

This can cause a lot of problems such as swelling of the scrotum, inflammation of the
testicles or irritation in the vas deferens. However, these infections could be easily
treated with antibiotics and the chance of getting an infection has almost been
eliminated by the use of antibacterial sprays.

Another very marked side effect is that of irregular arousal. Certain males deem it to
be amongst the worst Vasectomy Side Effects, because they have to suffer utter
embarrassment when their penis decides to become erect by itself in, say a party full
of people. On the other hand, many males complain of erectile dysfunction especially
when having sex. Part of this is related to the psychological process of not being able
to have children, or the stress about their sexual performance after having a
vasectomy.

Perhaps the biggest side effect of vasectomy is to have an accidental pregnancy
after having a vasectomy. Yes, that is true and has happened in many cases.
People think that they wont be able to have children right after a vasectomy, where as
in fact, it takes almost three to four months for existing sperm count to lower down.
That is why couples should still use contraceptives and should only stop once the
doctors have confirmed that the sperm count has gone down.